Flexible hose

Abstract

A flexible hose comprising: a flexible conduit for carrying a pressurized fluid; a flexible inner support for supporting the conduit; and a compression layer surrounding the flexible conduit.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A flexible hose comprising:
 a flexible conduit for carrying a pressurized fluid; 
 a flexible inner support for supporting the conduit; and 
 a compression layer surrounding the flexible conduit, wherein the flexible conduit is wrapped helically around the flexible inner support, wherein the flexible inner support is provided on an outer surface thereof with a coil or thread formation, and wherein the flexible conduit is provided on an inner surface thereof with a complementary coil or thread formation, which when the flexible hose is assembled engages with the coil or thread formation of the flexible inner support to maintain the conduit in position relative to the inner support. 
 
     
     
       2. A flexible hose according to  claim 1  further comprising an outer sleeve. 
     
     
       3. A flexible hose according to  claim 2  wherein the outer sleeve is of a polymer material. 
     
     
       4. A flexible hose according to  claim 3  wherein the outer sleeve is of a heat-shrink material. 
     
     
       5. A flexible hose according to  claim 1  wherein the flexible inner support comprises a flexible and chemically stable polymer material. 
     
     
       6. A flexible hose according to  claim 5  wherein the flexible polymer material comprises polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). 
     
     
       7. A flexible hose according to  claim 1  wherein the conduit comprises stainless steel tubing. 
     
     
       8. A flexible hose according to  claim 1  wherein the compression layer comprises a sleeve of braided material. 
     
     
       9. A flexible hose according to  claim 8  wherein the braided material comprises a meta-aramid polymer.